Berry has the added advantage of joining second-year defender Jalil Anibaba, who is training with Madrid’s “second team” until Dec. 2. Anything that adds to the comfort level, anything that helps the players squeeze the most out of these training spells, can only be a good thing.

It’s interesting that Berry has gone to Spain rather than England, where more of these training spells tend to land. It’s a more technical league, and that may be more in line with what U.S. national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann is looking for in his center backs now; a little less lean to the “stop,” a wee bit more emphasis on the “distribute.”

And yes, Berry will begin to gather more and more mention for the national team. He’s 24, which is a little bit older to begin the identification and indoctrination process, but hardly unprecedented.

Per Berry’s age. It’s not an uncommon assertion that US players, because of our traditionally convoluted youth and college systems, develop more slowly than their counterparts around the world. Just one more reason academy and youth development via MLS is becoming more important in regards to the next step for US soccer.